Morgan enthusiastic about upcoming work at CHS

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A new principal will take over at Columbia High School when classes begin in September, after interim Superintendent of Schools Thomas Ficarra announced the shuffling of several district administrators, including former CHS Principal Elizabeth Aaron. After serving as the high school’s principal for the last four years, Aaron is now a principal […]

U.S. Army Field Band and Chorus to perform free concert in Maplewood

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The township of Maplewood will present a free concert featuring The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus in the Memorial Park Amphitheater on Sunday, Sept. 2, at 6 p.m. Featuring more than 90 musicians and vocalists, the combined ensemble will perform a program which includes patriotic favorites, popular songs and […]

Silver looks forward to effecting change on Board of Ed

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Hannah Silver, 17, a rising senior at Columbia High School and the newly-elected student representative to the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education, was skeptical about running for the position. It wasn’t until a close friend brought her the application and encouraged her to run that she changed her mind. “I initially wasn’t […]

SO ordinance will allow hookah lounges

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — In a close vote on Aug. 13, the South Orange Board of Trustees passed business code revisions, which will allow hookah lounges and vape stores to operate in town. There were two revision ordinances on the agenda for the Aug. 13 meeting: one permitting hookah lounges and vape stores on Valley […]

Vanguard announces grants from NJSCA and Tee Rico

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Vanguard Theater Company announced the award of a significant grant from the New Jersey State Council of the Arts for Vanguard’s educational program, DREAM VTC. In addition, Vanguard announced that Tee Rico by Lin Manuel Miranda has become the main sponsor of Vanguard’s 2018-19 season. The New Jersey State Council on the […]

Survey shows commuters are ‘very dissatisfied’ with NJT

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — South Orange and Maplewood are known as transit-based towns but with problems plaguing NJ Transit this summer, travelers in both municipalities have grown frustrated while trying to reach their destinations. In a survey jointly circulated by the towns between Aug. 5 and 8, residents overwhelmingly stated that their lives […]

Wells Fargo wagon not coming down the street in Essex

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. announced Aug. 8 that Essex County is withdrawing all its accounts from Wells Fargo because of “predatory lending schemes and aggressive foreclosure practices by the banking giant,” according to a release from the county. Under DiVincenzo’s directive, Essex County began removing its accounts from Wells Fargo […]

More than 850 children shop cost-free at Back 2 School Store

LIVINGSTON, NJ — The 10th annual NCJW/Essex Back 2 School Store brought grins all around on Sunday, July 29, as hundreds of children went shopping at a one-day pop-up store designed to help economically disadvantaged children in Essex County. “I love my new backpack and I got to pick it out myself!” exclaimed one little […]

Registration now open for fall session of SeniorStudio painting classes

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood Department of Recreation & Cultural Affairs will be again be sponsoring SeniorStudio, a studio art painting program. These classes are specifically designed for senior residents, ages 60 and older, with no arts experience, and new students are encouraged to sign up, but students of all skill levels are welcomed. The 10-week […]